This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. To order presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com

Pride month is a time for celebration. But for some LGBTQ youth it can be difficult finding a space to celebrate their identity and the end of the school year—and high school dances aren’t always the best place to party.

So when Nate Turarie discovered Pride Prom, he was relieved to have found a place where he would feel safe and accepted.

“In your youth you’re finding out a lot about yourself, like your sexuality and gender. But the tough thing is, during Pride the events are mostly for adults. So it’s really difficult as a youth to celebrate yourself during Pride.”

Pride Prom, organized by Supporting Our Youth (SOY) which is a program out of the Sherbourne Health Centre, aims to remove that discomfort and allow LGBTQ youth a chance to celebrate. The event is one of few in Ontario that is geared specifically for LGBTQ youth to celebrate pride, and it receives 150 to 200 attendees. Pride Prom is similar to a high school dance but it’s a “special space where youth get to be who they are” said SOY coordinator Clare Nobbs.

She said high school proms are becoming more inclusive but it’s still common for LGBTQ youth to feel alienated.

Article Continued Below

And with traditions like prom king and queen or music solely about heterosexual romance, Turarie said prom can cause even more discomfort and exclusion for LGBTQ youth.

When he went to his friend’s prom three years ago, it wasn’t exactly a night to remember.

“It was an absolutely terrible experience for me. I didn’t get harassed or get terrible glares—which is good—I wasn’t scared but I still didn’t feel comfortable,” he said. “A lack of fear doesn’t mean happiness.”

Pride Prom allows participants to bring as many friends as they wish and dress however they like.

Turarie said this will be his second time participating and volunteering at the event. “I know I’m going to have fun and have a good time. I know I’m going to be happy and I’m going to feel safe and that I can walk up to someone, have a conversation with them, and know for sure that they’ll accept me.”

On Monday, about 30 youth took advantage of a haircut and styling event prior to the dance.

SOY and Skylark, an agency that provides child and youth programs, has teamed up with the Dress Code Project to help LGBTQ youth get ready for Pride Prom. The Dress Code Project is a group of hair salons that provide an inclusive space for the LGBTQ community to get a haircut.

Kristin Rankin is the creator of the Dress Code Project, a group of hair salons that provide an inclusive space for the LGBTQ community to get a haircut. (Rick Madonik)

The founder and co-owner of Fuss Hair Salon, Kristin Rankin created the project two years ago to counter discrimination some LGBTQ clients experience at hair salons. She said LGBTQ customers are often turned away because their preferred haircut doesn’t coincide with a salon’s gender prices. She said a more inclusive salon charges based on hair length rather than the client’s gender.

Rankin is also currently creating another campaign that will bring beauty industry professionals together to support the transgender community with their transition.

She said having an inclusive and non-judgmental space for LGBTQ youth to get their hair done is important for them to feel accepted, especially if they’re coming to terms with who they are.

“In the back of your mind you think about your appearance, and when you want to look good your appearance starts to matter,” she said. “When I was younger I remember how hard it was to come out. I don’t want these kids to go through that.”

For Turarie he hopes more events for LGBTQ youth like Pride Prom are created outside the GTA.

“I really hope other cities and smaller towns would take the time to appreciate and love their LGBTQ youth and start organizing some events for them because being social is a big part of human life and human growth.”

Clarification – June 22, 2017: This article was edited from a previous version to make clear that Skylark, an agency that provides child and youth programs, provided the space to host the event.

Delivered dailyThe Morning Headlines Newsletter

The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, One Yonge Street, 4th Floor, Toronto, ON, M5E 1E6. You can unsubscribe at any time. Please contact us or see our privacy policy for more information.

More from the Toronto Star & Partners

LOADING

Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or distribution of this content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. To order copies of Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com